House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 14 May 1651

Wednesday, the 14th of May, 1651.

Prayers.

Petition from Chester.

THE House being informed, that divers Gentlemen of Cheshire were at the Door;

They were called in: And, being come to the Bar, they presented a Petition, intituled, "The humble Representation and Petition of the Justices of Peace, the Grand Juries, and other well-affected Persons to this Commonwealth, at the General Sessions and Gaol Delivery for the County Palatine of Chester, in the Name of the said County."

Which (after the Petitioners were withdrawn) was read.

Resolved, That Mr. Speaker do give the hearty Thanks of this House to the Petitioners.

The Petitioners being again called in, Mr. Speaker was commanded to give them this Answer:

"Gentlemen,

The Parliament hath read your Petition; and taken it into a serious and particular Consideration; and do well resent your Acknowledgment of what the Parliament hath done: Which they have and endeavour to do, out of a tender Respect to the good of the whole Nation, and so to you. For the great Burdens and Taxations you mention, as you acknowledge them to be necessary, so they do assure you it is not in their Will to do it, if it were in their Power to redress it, without the Hazard of your Preservation: And those which respect yourselves, and that County, the Parliament have and will take the same into Consideration, to afford Relief therein as soon as may be: And for the Expressions you have made, and the good and sincere Affections of the whole County you have therein declared, they have commanded me to return unto you the hearty Thanks of the House: And I do, in their Names, give you the very hearty Thanks of this House."

Probate of Wills.

Ordered, That Mr. Hill do bring in the Bill for Probate of Wills, This-day-sevennight, the first Business; nothing to intervene.

Delinquents Estates.

The Act for Sale of several Delinquents Estates, was this Day read the Third time.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the House do proceed To-morrow Morning, in the Election of the Trustees and Contractors, and all other Officers, to be named in this Act: And that each of the Members do present a Paper of the Names of fit Persons.

The Question being put, That the Trustees and Contractors in this Bill be one and the same Persons;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it was Resolved, That the Trustees and Contractors in this Bill be one and the same Person.

Resolved, That the Number of the Persons to be Trustees and Contractors shall be Seven.

The Question being propounded, That the Quorum be Five;

And the Question being put, That that Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put, That the Quorum be Five;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

Mr. Speaker declared himself to be with the Yeas.

And so it was Resolved, That the Quorum be Five.

Resolved, That the Salary for these Persons named to be Trustees and Contractors shall be Two-pence in the Pound.

Resolved, That the Treasurers shall be Two.

Resolved, That the Salary of the Treasurers be One Pony in the Pound.